10 observations: Hawks record just 18 shots in the loss to Stars originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
The Blackhawks lost their sixth straight game after losing 4-1 to the Dallas Stars at the United Center on Tuesday.
Here are 10 observations from the loss:
1. The Blackhawks had an extremely difficult time generating anything offensively. At one point they were passed 23-5 late in the second period. They also didn’t have any dangerous chances in two thirds and finished with 18 shots on target, level on points for the third-least of the season.
2. What an absolutely unenjoyable first period. It was only at 1:47 p.m. that the Blackhawks made their first attempt to shoot, a shot on target by Lukas Reichel. They finished the period with just six tries while the Stars had 15 tries and scored twice on their first nine shots.
3. Jujhar Khaira did not play due to a non-COVID illness, so the Blackhawks rolled with 11 forwards and seven defenders. Midway through the season, however, Ian Mitchell began taking his shifts forward as Caleb Jones did earlier in the season.
4. In the third half, Luke Glendening scored a shorthandy goal to give Stars a 4-0 win, then rolled over Alex Stalock, who was out for a while before resurfacing and staying in the game. He was not happy about this and continued to berate the officials throughout, eventually leading to an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty and then a sacking at 3:37 before the end of regulation time. He’s probably sensitive to this type of play, having missed time earlier in the season with a concussion and eye dysfunction.
5. Max Domi returned to Chicago for the first time since the Dallas trade on March 2nd. He loved being a Blackhawk and I could imagine a scenario where he re-signs in the summer when both sides are interested in a reunion. said Domi before the game: “I made some friends in Chicago that I’m sure will last a lifetime. I know it was a really short time, but I felt like I’d been here a lot longer than I was. I really enjoyed my time.”
6. The Blackhawks brought back defenseman Alex Vlasic from Rockford and added him to the lineup. It was his first NHL action of the season. He looked really confident. He used his long stick to interrupt a couple of games, had three takeaways, two shots on target, a blocked shot, one hit and finished with 19:53 ice time, leading the team.
7. The Blackhawks had another tough night in the puck management department. They had 15 freebies in that game after having 18 against Vancouver on Sunday.
8th. Tyler Johnson finally ended his 14-game goal drought after putting his team on the board in the third period. In the end it didn’t matter but he was cruelly robbed of a couple of goals in the last game so it probably felt like a relief for him. Wyatt Kaiser recorded an assist for his first NHL point of his career.
9. The Blackhawks will sit out Philipp Kurashev for the remainder of the season with a shoulder injury. He doesn’t need surgery, but it will take some time to heal. A tough way to end the season for him, but as a pending restricted free agent eligible for arbitration, it makes sense not to rush things. I expect him to come back next season and have a top six role.
10 Jonathan Tows spoke to the media for the first time in months on Tuesday morningand he conceded that part of the reason he’s pushing for a comeback before the end of the season is because he realizes that might be the case for his time in Chicago: “Regardless of what this summer is in the future.” happens I definitely think that might be my last few weeks here in Chicago as a Blackhawk and so it’s definitely very important for me to just go out there and enjoy the game and just absorb it and just really appreciate everything that I am could be a part here in Chicago and also show my appreciation to the fans.”
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Source : sports.yahoo.com